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The era of the body-on-frame, fullsize SUV is rapidly vanishing in favor of smaller, unibody crossovers. However, Ford still sees life in the segment with the reveal of the updated 2015 Expedition, now available (solely) with the company's 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6. The new truck will make its public debut at the 2014 DFW Auto Show in Dallas on February 19.

The loss of the previous 5.4-liter V8 in favor of Ford's 3.5-liter, direct-injected, twin-turbocharged V6 engine might rankle some of the Expedition's fans, but Ford claims that the change gives the SUV better fuel economy, more power and increased low-end torque than before. Unfortunately, official engine specifications won't be released until later this year, but Ford says engine output will be similar to the 365 horsepower and 420 pound-feet of torque that this powerplant produces in other applications. The EcoBoost is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, and the SUV now uses electrically assisted power steering, for an even greater fuel economy advantage. Ford claims this also allows for better maneuverability at low speeds and better feel at high speeds.

Exterior styling is basically unchanged for 2015. The front end has a new, three-bar grille (the old one had four bars) and headlight design, but the lower air dam gets added chrome and LED lamps. The rear gets more brightwork on the hatch, and there's a chrome-tipped exhaust pipe. As before, Ford is offering the Expedition in two wheelbase lengths – 119 inches and 131 inches. A new, optional, continuously controlled damping system alters suspension settings constantly based on 46 parameters and offers comfort, normal and sport modes (just like the Expedition's sister, the recently refreshed and decidedly less-attractive Lincoln Navigator).

While interior volumes are unchanged for 2015, the the instrument panel is revamped with two new 4.2-inch LCD screens between the central speedometer. MyFord Touch-equipped models also get a new, eight-inch touchscreen. The Expedition also gets new tech goodies like blind-spot alert, cross-traffic alert, push-button start, a rearview camera and apps for the infotainment system to help with towing and off-road driving. A new, luxury-oriented Platinum trim level makes many of these features standard, and offers a choice of dark red leather seats or black leather with gray accents.

The 2015 Expedition will enter production at the company's Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville later this year, and Ford will add XLT, Limited and King Ranch trim levels later. While the technological improvements will certainly be welcome, will the traditional buyers of the Expedition be willing to accept turbocharged V6 power? We will be able to answer that better when Ford releases official specs and fuel economy figures. If they're anything like current F-150 buyers, we certainly think so. Scroll down for the full details in Ford's press release.

UPDATE: A previous version of this story said the 2015 Expedition will use the same three-bar grille as before. The old model used a four-bar grille, so the three-bar setup is brand new. Additionally, regarding horsepower, we originally reported that the new Expedition's EcoBoost V6 will be tuned to produce something like 365 horsepower and 360 pound-feet of torque. While official specs still have not been released, the torque number should actually be something along the lines of 420, which is what's produced in the current Ford F-150 EcoBoost.

Expedition now features Ford F-Series' popular 3.5-liter EcoBoost® engine, more technology than ever and a fresh new look. Launching later this year, it is the latest Ford nameplate to offer a Platinum series. Expedition is being shown for the first time in Texas, Ford's largest market by sales volume, and home to the top two cities for Expedition sales – Dallas and Houston.

Expedition debuted in 1996 and is Ford's largest utility vehicle. By most measures, it is a leader in interior space, accommodating eight passengers. Two versions are offered – the standard 119-inch wheelbase is just more than 6 inches longer than Ford Explorer. It has three rows of seats and up to 108.3 cubic feet of cargo space. The longer-wheelbase version sits on a 131- inch wheelbase, and features three rows of seats and up to 130.8 cubic feet of cargo space.

Expedition remains the only full-size utility vehicle not classified as a luxury offering to feature an independent rear suspension. This helps deliver more confident ride and handling characteristics, and allows for the lower, more convenient fold-flat third-row bench seat.

Both standard and EL versions of Expedition are built at Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville, alongside Ford's popular Super Duty pickup. Last month, the company confirmed plans to add more workers and invest an additional $80 million in facility upgrades to improve automation and increase capacity at the plant.

Ford is responding to strong customer feedback and introducing a top-of-the-line Platinum series Expedition with unique, premium interior appointments. The new vehicle features the latest popular technologies like SYNC® with MyFord Touch®, push-button start and Blind Spot Information System®. A new 3.5-liter, direct-injected twin-turbocharged EcoBoost delivers more power and performance than the current 5.4-liter V8, and is designed to be more efficient.

"This new Expedition is proof Ford is committed to remaining the leader in utilities – small, medium and large," said Jackie DiMarco, Expedition chief engineer. "We listened to our customers and created a full-size utility vehicle that doesn't compromise in performance, technology or design."

Improved on the road

From the outset, engineers worked to make the 2015 Expedition a technologically advanced vehicle that is easy to drive and offers refinement for all types of drivers.

The new EcoBoost engine dramatically changes the driving characteristics of Expedition. Compared with the 5.4-liter V8, the 3.5-liter EcoBoost gives drivers not just better fuel economy, but more power and torque on demand at very low engine speeds.

"Expedition becoming the latest Ford utility vehicle to wear the EcoBoost badge will be exciting for customers," said Doug Scott, Ford truck group marketing manager. "Increased torque and horsepower, combined with new levels of efficiency and an advanced suspension not only will make Expedition more fun to drive, but also easier to own. This is another 'and' solution from Ford."

The 3.5-liter EcoBoost will be the only engine offered in the new Expedition in North America. To maximize performance and control, the vehicle is equipped with a six-speed SelectShift® automatic transmission featuring a manual mode that allows the driver to use a shift-mounted rocker switch to select the desired gear.

With EcoBoost now standard equipment across the 2015 Expedition range, the entire U.S. lineup of Ford utility vehicles will be available with EcoBoost power by the end of 2014.

New continuously controlled damping, available for the first time on a Ford nameplate, will make Expedition the only Blue Oval-branded vehicle in the United States with three selectable drive modes – comfort, normal and sport.

Using a suite of sensors that detect 46 unique body, steering and braking inputs, the advanced suspension monitors body motion and then adjusts Expedition's damping system in milliseconds to manage the vehicle's natural body motion. A vehicle with poor damping feels as if it is bouncing on its suspension springs; continuously controlled damping recognizes the weight of the vehicle, steering feedback and road undulations and then reacts accordingly, helping to control body motion so passengers experience an orderly, comfortable ride.

The new Expedition also features Ford's innovative electric power-assisted steering, which gives drivers noticeably improved maneuverability at low speeds and better feel at high speeds, and saves fuel because it operates more efficiently than traditional pump-driven systems. The technology reduces steering effort and makes Expedition more engaging to drive.

More technology customers want

The new Expedition debuts with popular technology upgrades consumers are now demanding, including SYNC with MyFord Touch and driver-assist features such as radar-based Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert.
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The updated interior of Expedition incorporates a fresh center stack to accommodate new technologies, such as an 8-inch touch screen for SYNC with MyFord Touch. The driver information cluster features two full-color 4.2-inch LCD screens.

Other new technologies on the 2015 Expedition include a 10-speaker, 700-watt Sony audio system; Intelligent Access with push-button start; rearview camera; seven-color, interior ambient LED lighting; and Ford truck apps to help make trailer towing and off-road driving easier.

Fresh style and design

The new Expedition pushes full-size utility vehicle design to a higher level, with fresh interior and exterior styling and a diverse series lineup – each with a distinct look and feel to give customers more choice than ever. A Platinum trim package, which has been very successful on Ford F-Series, will be available on Expedition for the first time.

"The Platinum series brings Expedition into a whole new arena of design and style," said Scott. "One of the strengths of Expedition has always been the different trim series we offer. From XLT to Limited and now with Platinum, we have an Expedition that will fit any customer's needs."

The Platinum series is tailored with lush leather seating described by designers as buttery – soft and smooth to the touch. It's available in a new Brunello leather, a red wine color with tuxedo- stripe accents and French-seamed stitching. Platinum customers can also choose black leather with Agate Gray accents.

Beyond the new Platinum series, the 2015 Expedition lineup includes the XLT, Limited and a new King Ranch edition to be revealed later.

The design team, finding inspiration in the world around them, incorporated different themes to define the look for each series. The intent was to reflect a consumer lifestyle, from the sporty XLT, to the confident, elegant Limited, to the sophisticated, urban Platinum. Each series has unique finishes specially selected to reflect the lifestyle and desires of the customer. For example, Expedition Limited features refined yet traditional finishes, while for the Platinum edition, the colors and material finishes are fresh and sophisticated.

The Expedition exterior has been updated with an all-new front end featuring available LED fog lamps for a fresh, aggressive look.

An all-new wheel lineup including factory-installed 22-inch models, a redesigned rear hatch and subtle, chrome-tipped exhaust pipes round out the exterior changes to the 2015 Expedition.

With this new model debuting at the DFW Auto Show – deep in the heart of the full-size utility vehicle market – Ford is building on a successful tradition of Expedition capability and quality with significant improvements in design, performance, efficiency and available technology.

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About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 181,000 employees and 65 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

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Love this new look... The updated center display and gauges... And of-course the EcoBoost offering... I only wish we could choose between the 3.5 and the new 2.7... MPG's for the family hauler... And I also with Ford would surprise us and say the whole body is now made out of light weight aluminum like the new 2015 F-150... That would drop about 1,000 lbs...

The only thing Ford never thought (and never think) to do is equipping this T-Rex with locking differential. There are a lot of politics as to why they are not moving to offer the expedition with Locking Differential. One of the main reasons is the impact on the marketing of the F-150. ford doesn't like the idea of (All-In-one).

Number 1, I'm not a troll. However You most certainly are with your toxic and baiting posts.
Number 2, those are insane arguments that have no basis in reality. All of my posts are grounded in reality and use facts to support them. Try it sometime.

"those are insane arguments that have no basis in reality."
As is consistent with all of your rants on Ford articles.
Now, go back to calling the F-150 a "tin can", because everybody knows that tin and aluminum are the same metal, right?

This is a refresh, not a full redesign. All automakers give mid-cycle refreshes to the same basic design after a few years. This is no different.
Plenty of automakers have products that are older than the Expedition. Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier came out in 2005, Nissan Titan and Armada have been the same vehicle(s) since 2004. But, that's ok of course, because they're not Ford or GMs, right? Terrible.
And what other Ford or GM vehicle do they "seem to be phoning" in? The only one I can think of that's in need of replacement would be the Chevy Express/GMC Savanna full sized vans. I would mention Ford's E-Series, but it has had updates fairly recently and is already scheduled to be replaced by the Transit.

That's isn't fair to lump Gm into the equation, granted GM's new SUV's aren't exactly design revelations but at least they're actual new product and not warmed over "phoned in" product like this Expedition.

Yeah, I remember back in '99 when full sized SUVs had IRS, blind-spot alert, cross-traffic alert, push-button start, a rearview camera, EcoBoost engine with more power, torque, towing capability and MPG than a comperable V-8, 8" touch screens, a continuously controlled damping system that alters suspension settings constantly based on 46 parameters and offers comfort, normal and sport modes, six-speed automatic, and power fold down 3rd row seating.
Man, those were some great times.

Really? IRS is a feature, not a design? EcoBoost engine is a feature, not a design? 6-speed automatic is a feature, not a design?
There are virtually no design similarities shared with this model and those from the '90s, other than the most basic general premise, which is that it's name is Expedition, and it is a body-on-frame, 4-door SUV. If that were changed, then the vehicle wouldn't be in the same class that it is now. The body is different, the powertrain is different, the frame is different, the suspension is different, and the interior is different. My point is, what do you (or does he) expect? If you're expecting a deviation from a full-sized, body-on-frame SUV, then Ford has a Flex they'd be happy to sell you.
It's like saying that the current Fusion's design is really from 1986, because it's a mid size FWD 4-door car from Ford. I guess the 2015 F-150 is a design from the 1940s, too? And the current BMW 7-series is really a design from 1977?

Here's the facts for all the people who think that Ford is "phoning it in". Ford just debuted an all new full size truck with an aluminum body. A world's first. It will likely be the lightest and most technologically advanced full size truck on the market. NOW, let's imagine that Ford wants to do the same thing with its full size SUVs at some point. They don't want another GM wannabe with the same old architecture and weight and fuel economy issues that the old models had. And they know that the full size SUV market is shrinking rapidly because of those issues. Without something truly revolutionary in their portfolio, the investment for an all new Expedition and Navigator is throwing good money away because people still won't buy them. HOWEVER, trying to engineer and produce a new full size truck and two new full size SUVs with the same level of revolutionary innovation all at the same time would be extraordinarily expensive and impossible in terms of manpower and retooling. SO they picked their battle. F150 first, SUVs later. It makes sense and is smart. They may still have a couple dinosaurs now, but when they finally do come out with the all new Expedition and Navigator, the GM trucks will be the ones shuffling off to extinction.

This guy nailed it! New 2015 Mustang and F150...I'm shocked they even touched the Expedition, but I suppose they had to with the GM triplets doing so much! So...will Ford do an aluminum Expedition in 2-3 years?